TALK ABOUT CUTE!

ARE TOPICAL FLEA AND TICK DROPS DANGEROUS FOR YOUR PET?

Why are male calico's so rare?

Calico cats, with their orange, black and white coloration, are almost always female. So are black and orange tortoiseshells. Why?

The answer has to do with genetics. Every cat has 38 pairs of chromosomes; half of the pairs are from the mother, the other half is from the father. Within every chromosome there are thousands of different genes.
Every female cat receives one X chromosome from her mother and one X chromosome from her father, while a male receives one X chromosome from his mother and one Y chromosome from his father. Within the X chromosome is a gene for coat color.
In calicos and tortoiseshells, one X has the black gene; the other X has the orange gene. White coat color is associated with a completely separate gene.

At conception, the kitten is a one-celled organism, which divides until there are millions of cells that make up the final kitten. Each time a cell divides, it passes on its genetic material.
For the sex chromosomes, there is a battle for power. This is especially true for the X chromosome. If two X chromosomes are present, which determines female sex, one X chromosome will become inactivated at some point in fetal development. When this happens, all the cells descended from the activated X chromosome will have the same characteristics, including coat color.
In calicos, if the X-chromosome that is left functioning carries the orange gene, then all the cells descended from it will result in an orange color. The same is true if the functioning X chromosome has the black gene. If both X-chromosomes carry the same color gene, then the calico pattern will not appear.
Since X chromosomes inactivate at various times in each individual cat, color patches vary.

The story is different for male cats. Males have only one X chromosome, and it is never inactivated. Whatever color gene is present on this X chromosome will determine the color of the cat. Males can be calico or tortoiseshell only if they are born with 2 X-chromosomes and a Y (XXY), allowing one X to be inactivated. This genetic defect (XXY) is very rare.

It is difficult to breed specifically for calico or tortoiseshell cats. Breeding an orange cat to a black cat may increase the chances, but it all depends on whether the kitten is female and at what stage during development the X-chromosome becomes inactive. There is no way to predict or force an X chromosome to inactivate at a certain point in development.

I know I know this sounds like alot to absorb, but basically it means it is easier for the genes to make girl kitties than boy kitties in this breed. I have had and seen male calicos, however most are usually sterile. If you have a male calico get him checked for fertility. Hope this helps.

Please VOTE cat shown in the two photo's above...........three colored male calico?

Bringing your dog to church?

Bring your dog to church day.
The Calvary Episcopal Church in Danvers, Mass., is now allowing members of their church to bring their dogs! The first "Perfect Paws Pet Ministry" will be held later this month and once a month there after. Barking is allowed says the minister but mass will be held in a different room of the church. There will be communion for the humans and special treats for the canines. Owners can submit special prayers for sick animals, dogs that can not be around other dogs and for cats, birds and horses.

UPDATE: After some additional research, this is not the only church that allows dogs. I personally have been to a church event that blesses the animals in the church parking lot but when I came across this story I was amazed they are now allowing animals inside the church. I'm on the fence, one side of me thinks it would be cool to bring my dog with me, the other side thinks it would be a HUGE distraction.

Credit for the above goes to the blog: for the love of dogs:
 http://www.petlovercouture.blogspot.com/

Litter Boxes No-More!

http://www.litterkwitter.com/en/index.php

No words needed

Today, we honor hairballs everywhere!

There is a certain hacking, coughing sound that most cat owners know all too well. This unpleasant sound signals only one thing: Your cat is about to deposit a fresh hairball on the carpet. Over 38 million U.S. households own at least one cat, so certainly many, many people are aware of hairballs. But did you know that today, April 30, is National Hairball Awareness Day (NHAD)?

When a cat coughs up a hairball, it is actually choking. This hacking can be very dangerous and can cause death in some cases. Cats will overgroom themselves, especially in the spring during peak shedding season. To reduce the hair and the hack, many veterinarians recommend proactive grooming with a product like the FURminator Shedding Tool for cats to help lessen the amount of hair ingested. This is a more holistic approach for reducing hairballs rather than altering a cat’s diet with specially formulated food or giving it a harsh laxative to flush out the hair in its digestive system. You can also add a little canned pumpkin to a cat’s meal once or twice a week. The fiber in the pumpkin can help move any hair clods through its system. Specially formulated hairball-control foods and treats have a similar affect.

Cats have primal instincts and the location of their water bowl can prove it. In the wild, a cat would never drag its kill to a watering hole to eat and drink at the same time. House cats have inherited this same instinct. Owners should keep a cat’s water and food bowls in separate locations. The cat will drink more water, which will help its system clean itself of ingested hair.

A cat’s age can affect how they shed. As a kitten matures, its coat changes in several ways: texture, thickness, curl and coloring. This transition may take up to two years depending on the breed. Once a kitten’s coat has matured, it will begin to shed more by dropping its “kitten coat.” Consult with a veterinarian or groomer on the cat’s changing grooming needs.

Keep cats active to stay healthy; they’re athletes at heart. A healthy cat can jump as much as seven times its height. Unfortunately, 21 percent of cats are considered obese or overweight by their veterinarians. Active play with interactive toys encourages cats to leap, stretch and stay active, increasing balance and coordination while also helping your pet maintain a healthy skin and coat.

Joking aside, hairballs are a bummer for cats and can cause vomiting, loss of appetite and constipation in your kitty. Spare your cat from these problems by following these handy guidelines. Learn more about important cat grooming at Cats 101:

1. Brush your cat daily, especially while she's shedding, to help prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach.
2. Use a bristle or rubber brush for shorthaired cats.
3. Brush longhaired felines with a wide-toothed comb or wire slicker brush.
4. Feed your cat a "hairball control" cat food high in vegetable fiber, or administer a commercial hairball prevention preparation available from your veterinarian or at pet stores.

A thanks goes out to Barking at the Moon blog, for the heads up!
http://www.barkingatthemoon-lunakris.blotspot.com/